PM appoints Mel Stride as new House of Commons leader after Andrea Leadsom resignation
The ex-Treasury minister is promoted as part of a mini reshuffle following further cabinet turmoil.
Thursday 23 May 2019 14:08, UK
Theresa May has acted swiftly to appoint a new leader of the House of Commons as she battles to keep her government together.
Former Treasury minister Mel Stride will take on the cabinet role following the resignation of Andrea Leadsom.
She quit as Commons leader on Wednesday night after telling the prime minister she couldn't support key Brexit legislation.
The move piled further pressure on Mrs May to announce her own departure, following a furious backlash at her Withdrawal Agreement Bill among Tory MPs and ministers.
The government has since delayed publication of the bill, which aims to put the prime minister's Brexit deal into law, as Mrs May listens to "concerns".
Speaking outside her home on Thursday morning, Ms Leadsom said: "I felt I couldn't in all conscience stand up and deliver the business statement today with the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in it, that I couldn't support elements of.
"I have no doubts that I made the right decision and, of course, it's for the prime minister to decide what's right for her and the country."
Ms Leadsom did not answer when asked whether she would now be launching a leadership campaign to replace Mrs May, whom she stood against in 2016 before withdrawing from the contest.
She was the 36th minister to resign from Mrs May's government.
Mr Stride is a former Tory whip who was appointed financial secretary to the Treasury in June 2017.
His promotion to the cabinet has led to a mini-reshuffle of ministerial positions, with Jesse Norman replacing him.
In turn, Michel Ellis replaces Mr Norman as a transport minister, while Rebecca Pow replaces Mr Ellis as a junior minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Mrs May will meet Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservatives' 1922 committee, on Friday.
She is facing calls to inform Sir Graham of her specific resignation timetable.